Vote Smart provides easy access to congressional and state voting records and maintains a collection of key votes grouped by issue. Vote Smart uses the following criteria to select key votes:
Vote Smart provides a summary of the version of the bill text associated with each selected key vote. Our summaries are written by Vote Smart's staff and interns, who adhere to our strict policies and procedures in order to guarantee absolute impartiality and accuracy. They do not necessarily reflect the content of the final version of the bill, but rather the version voted on in that stage. While many procedural votes take place before a full chamber vote, our voting stages reflect the final reading of each chamber vote. Each key vote selection is reviewed by the project's community of advisors, who are political scientists and journalists from all fifty states.
For more information about the legislative process, see here.
| Date | State | Bill No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 7, 2009 | ID | H 376 | Transportation Funding Package | Bill Passed - House (46 - 18) |
| May 7, 2009 | ID | H 374 | Allowing Diversion of Funds to Virtual Education | Bill Passed - House (49 - 15) |
| May 6, 2009 | CO | HB 1366 | Capital Gains Income Tax Reduction Modification | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (37 - 28) |
| May 6, 2009 | CO | HB 1366 | Capital Gains Income Tax Reduction Modification | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| May 6, 2009 | MI | HB 4785 | Job Training Program Benefits and Security | Bill Passed - House (68 - 39) |
| May 6, 2009 | PA | SB 850 | 2009-2010 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 20) |
| May 6, 2009 | MI | HB 4786 | Part-Time Work Unemployment Benefits | Bill Passed - House (68 - 39) |
| May 5, 2009 | MN | SF 2081 | 2010-2011 Economic Development Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (74 - 57) |
| May 5, 2009 | KS | HB 2373 | 2009-2011 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
| May 4, 2009 | VT | Transportation Amendment to S 67 | Selective Service Registration by Drivers License | Amendment Rejected - House (60 - 68) |
| May 4, 2009 | MN | SF 2081 | 2010-2011 Economic Development Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (38 - 28) |
| May 4, 2009 | ND | SB 2003 | 2009-2011 Biennuim Higher Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (70 - 24) |
| May 4, 2009 | MN | SF 341 | Domestic Partner Death Rights | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 24) |
| May 4, 2009 | MO | HB 22 | Capital Improvements | Bill Passed - House (117 - 42) |
| May 1, 2009 | FL | HB 903 | Capping Attorney Fees in Workers' Compensation Lawsuits | Motion Agreed - Senate (22 - 16) |
| May 1, 2009 | FL | HB 479 | Amendments Regarding Public Employee Retirement | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (93 - 23) |
| May 1, 2009 | FL | HB 479 | Amendments Regarding Public Employee Retirement | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (93 - 23) |
| May 1, 2009 | FL | HB 479 | Amendments Regarding Public Employee Retirement | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 11) |
| May 1, 2009 | FL | HB 479 | Amendments Regarding Public Employee Retirement | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 11) |
| May 1, 2009 | MA | H 4101 | 2009-2010 Budget | Bill Passed - House (137 - 19) |
| April 30, 2009 | AL | HB 175 | Permitting Elections in Smaller Municipalities on Allowing Alcohol | Veto Override Passed - House (54 - 19) |
| April 30, 2009 | FL | Amdt 626368 | Liability Insurance Related to SunRail Commuter Line | Motion Rejected - Senate (17 - 23) |
| April 30, 2009 | MO | SB 71 | Income Tax Rate Reduction and Additional Tax Credt | Bill Passed - House (86 - 66) |
| April 29, 2009 | FL | Amdt 337171 | Expanding Unemployment Benefits Eligibility | Amendment Rejected - House (45 - 71) |
| April 29, 2009 | IN | HB 1379 | Unemployment Benefit Amendments | Conference Report Adopted - House (52 - 47) |
| April 29, 2009 | IN | HB 1491 | St. Joseph Superior Court Judges | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 18) |
| April 29, 2009 | IN | HB 1491 | St. Joseph Superior Court Judges | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 18) |
| April 29, 2009 | IN | HB 1491 | St. Joseph Superior Court Judges | Conference Report Adopted - House (68 - 22) |
| April 29, 2009 | IN | HB 1491 | St. Joseph Superior Court Judges | Conference Report Adopted - House (68 - 22) |
| April 29, 2009 | OK | SB 834 | Increased Local School Board Control | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 22) |
| April 29, 2009 | ND | SCR 4038 | Creating a Public Health Investment Trust Fund | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 23) |
| April 29, 2009 | OH | HB 1 | 2009-2011 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - House (53 - 45) |
| April 29, 2009 | ND | SCR 4038 | Creating a Public Health Investment Trust Fund | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 23) |
| April 29, 2009 | ID | S 1166 | Workers' Compensation Dividend Amendments | Bill Passed - House (50 - 16) |
| April 28, 2009 | MT | HB 2 | 2009-2011 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 23) |
| April 28, 2009 | MT | HB 2 | 2009-2011 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (56 - 44) |
| April 28, 2009 | CO | SB 228 | Repealing the General Fund Spending Cap | Bill Passed - House (35 - 29) |
| April 27, 2009 | MN | Ban on State Funds for Abortions | Amendment Rejected - Senate (26 - 39) | |
| April 27, 2009 | MN | H Amendment | Prohibits State Funding for Abortions | Amendment Rejected - House (66 - 66) |
| April 27, 2009 | MA | Sciortino Amdt | Sales Tax Increase | Amendment Adopted - House (108 - 51) |
| April 25, 2009 | IA | SF 477 | Appropriation Bonds | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 18) |
| April 25, 2009 | IA | SF 376 | Bonds Issuance for Infrastructure Projects and the Creation of an Iowa Jobs Program, Board, and Fund. | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 18) |
| April 25, 2009 | IA | SF 477 | Appropriation Bonds | Bill Passed - House (52 - 44) |
| April 25, 2009 | WA | HB 1244 | 2009-2011 Biennium Budget and 2007-2009 Supplemental Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20) |
| April 25, 2009 | WA | HB 1614 | Oil Importation Fee for Storm Water Pollution Cleanup | Bill Passed - House (51 - 45) |
| April 24, 2009 | WA | SB 5768 | Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Project | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (39 - 9) |
| April 24, 2009 | IA | SF 376 | Bonds Issuance for Infrastructure Projects and the Creation of an Iowa Jobs Program, Board, and Fund. | Bill Passed - House (53 - 43) |
| April 24, 2009 | WA | HB 1244 | 2009-2011 Biennium Budget and 2007-2009 Supplemental Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - House (54 - 42) |
| April 23, 2009 | MN | SF 2082 | 2010-2011 Budget | Bill Passed - House (69 - 62) |
| April 22, 2009 | HI | SB 1111 | Transient Accommodation Tax Increase | Conference Report Adopted - House (35 - 14) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5/07 | H 376 | Transportation Funding Package | Bill Passed - House (46 - 18) |
| 5/07 | H 374 | Allowing Diversion of Funds to Virtual Education | Bill Passed - House (49 - 15) |
| 5/06 | HB 1366 | Capital Gains Income Tax Reduction Modification | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (37 - 28) |
| 5/06 | HB 1366 | Capital Gains Income Tax Reduction Modification | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 14) |
| 5/06 | HB 4785 | Job Training Program Benefits and Security | Bill Passed - House (68 - 39) |
| 5/06 | SB 850 | 2009-2010 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 20) |
| 5/06 | HB 4786 | Part-Time Work Unemployment Benefits | Bill Passed - House (68 - 39) |
| 5/05 | SF 2081 | 2010-2011 Economic Development Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (74 - 57) |
| 5/05 | HB 2373 | 2009-2011 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 17) |
| 5/04 | Transportation Amendment to S 67 | Selective Service Registration by Drivers License | Amendment Rejected - House (60 - 68) |
| 5/04 | SF 2081 | 2010-2011 Economic Development Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (38 - 28) |
| 5/04 | SB 2003 | 2009-2011 Biennuim Higher Education Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (70 - 24) |
| 5/04 | SF 341 | Domestic Partner Death Rights | Bill Passed - Senate (41 - 24) |
| 5/04 | HB 22 | Capital Improvements | Bill Passed - House (117 - 42) |
| 5/01 | HB 903 | Capping Attorney Fees in Workers' Compensation Lawsuits | Motion Agreed - Senate (22 - 16) |
| 5/01 | HB 479 | Amendments Regarding Public Employee Retirement | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (93 - 23) |
| 5/01 | HB 479 | Amendments Regarding Public Employee Retirement | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (93 - 23) |
| 5/01 | HB 479 | Amendments Regarding Public Employee Retirement | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 11) |
| 5/01 | HB 479 | Amendments Regarding Public Employee Retirement | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 11) |
| 5/01 | H 4101 | 2009-2010 Budget | Bill Passed - House (137 - 19) |
| 4/30 | HB 175 | Permitting Elections in Smaller Municipalities on Allowing Alcohol | Veto Override Passed - House (54 - 19) |
| 4/30 | Amdt 626368 | Liability Insurance Related to SunRail Commuter Line | Motion Rejected - Senate (17 - 23) |
| 4/30 | SB 71 | Income Tax Rate Reduction and Additional Tax Credt | Bill Passed - House (86 - 66) |
| 4/29 | Amdt 337171 | Expanding Unemployment Benefits Eligibility | Amendment Rejected - House (45 - 71) |
| 4/29 | HB 1379 | Unemployment Benefit Amendments | Conference Report Adopted - House (52 - 47) |
| 4/29 | HB 1491 | St. Joseph Superior Court Judges | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 18) |
| 4/29 | HB 1491 | St. Joseph Superior Court Judges | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (32 - 18) |
| 4/29 | HB 1491 | St. Joseph Superior Court Judges | Conference Report Adopted - House (68 - 22) |
| 4/29 | HB 1491 | St. Joseph Superior Court Judges | Conference Report Adopted - House (68 - 22) |
| 4/29 | SB 834 | Increased Local School Board Control | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 22) |
| 4/29 | SCR 4038 | Creating a Public Health Investment Trust Fund | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 23) |
| 4/29 | HB 1 | 2009-2011 Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - House (53 - 45) |
| 4/29 | SCR 4038 | Creating a Public Health Investment Trust Fund | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 23) |
| 4/29 | S 1166 | Workers' Compensation Dividend Amendments | Bill Passed - House (50 - 16) |
| 4/28 | HB 2 | 2009-2011 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 23) |
| 4/28 | HB 2 | 2009-2011 Biennium Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (56 - 44) |
| 4/28 | SB 228 | Repealing the General Fund Spending Cap | Bill Passed - House (35 - 29) |
| 4/27 | Ban on State Funds for Abortions | Amendment Rejected - Senate (26 - 39) | |
| 4/27 | H Amendment | Prohibits State Funding for Abortions | Amendment Rejected - House (66 - 66) |
| 4/27 | Sciortino Amdt | Sales Tax Increase | Amendment Adopted - House (108 - 51) |
| 4/25 | SF 477 | Appropriation Bonds | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (31 - 18) |
| 4/25 | SF 376 | Bonds Issuance for Infrastructure Projects and the Creation of an Iowa Jobs Program, Board, and Fund. | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (30 - 18) |
| 4/25 | SF 477 | Appropriation Bonds | Bill Passed - House (52 - 44) |
| 4/25 | HB 1244 | 2009-2011 Biennium Budget and 2007-2009 Supplemental Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20) |
| 4/25 | HB 1614 | Oil Importation Fee for Storm Water Pollution Cleanup | Bill Passed - House (51 - 45) |
| 4/24 | SB 5768 | Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Project | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (39 - 9) |
| 4/24 | SF 376 | Bonds Issuance for Infrastructure Projects and the Creation of an Iowa Jobs Program, Board, and Fund. | Bill Passed - House (53 - 43) |
| 4/24 | HB 1244 | 2009-2011 Biennium Budget and 2007-2009 Supplemental Biennium Budget | Bill Passed - House (54 - 42) |
| 4/23 | SF 2082 | 2010-2011 Budget | Bill Passed - House (69 - 62) |
| 4/22 | SB 1111 | Transient Accommodation Tax Increase | Conference Report Adopted - House (35 - 14) |